Category: News
PMG-ky2.com
By Victoria Cox Editor
In 20 days, three LaRue County men who left their homes and families to defend our nation and the freedoms enjoyed today will travel to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to honoring their service and sacrifices. April 21, 2026, has therefore been proclaimed as Honor Flight Day in LaRue County.
The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to locating, identifying and transporting eligible veterans on an all-expenses-paid tour of their memorials at the nation’s capital. Honor Flight Bluegrass is a chapter of the network based in Louisville that was created to honor America’s WWII, Korea War, Cold War, and Vietnam War veterans for all their sacrifices.
The round-trip flights not only allow these veterans the opportunity to see the monuments dedicated to their service, but for many, especially Vietnam vets, the flights, and especially the people greeting them at airports, give them closure and a welcome home they never received when they returned from war.
Three LaRue County Vietnam veterans will embark on this journey on April 21: Ronnie Benningfield, Earl Riggs and Gene Keith. On account of this, LaRue County Judge Executive Blake Durrett has proclaimed the day as Honor Flight Day in an effort to call upon all citizens to express their deep gratitude and admiration for the sacrifices of our veterans.
“I’ve not served our country as they have, but I do love to honor them because I think we need them as a member of our society; we need to remember where we’ve been,” Durrett said. “[Vietnam veterans] did not get a very good welcome back to the United States, so we’re going to give them plenty of a good welcome.”
Riggs attended the LaRue County Fiscal Court’s Tuesday, March 24 meeting to accept the proclamation.
“When I was there – and I’m not saying this for you all to feel sorry for me – 200 Americans were killed a day; I didn’t even know that until I left,” he said. “I don’t know what you think about Vietnam veterans, but all I know is I served with some of the bravest men and women in the world.”
The LaRue County Herald News will provide coverage of the honor flight recipients and their experiences after the trip.
Fox 2 now
By Nick Gladney, Laura Simon
ST. LOUIS – The 114th Greater St. Louis Honor Flight is departing Wednesday morning from St. Louis Lambert International Airport for Washington. The flight carries a group of veterans who served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War for a day of recognition at the nation’s capital.
The itinerary includes visits to the World War II, Korean War and Vietnam memorials, along with a stop at Arlington National Cemetery. For the veterans on the flight, the trip represents an opportunity for honor, gratitude and healing.
Among those onboard are veterans from the same PTSD support group and two married couples who both served during the Vietnam War. Korean War veterans are also among the remarkable passengers making the trip.
The flight also serves as a milestone celebration for World War II veteran amd Marine Bob Schultz, who is celebrating his 104th birthday onboard the flight. Supporters at the airport greeted him with songs and celebrations as the group prepared to board for the day-long trip.
“They tell me they got all kinds of surprises for my birthday and just my arrival here, it was a big surprise,” Schultz said. “They sang me happy birthday and all that stuff. I don’t know how they can top my arrival with any surprises they might have, but I’m ready for it.”
The veterans are scheduled to return home to St. Louis Wednesday night.
WJHG
By Alexis Lewis
FLORIDA (WJHG/WECP) – More than 120 veterans participated in an all-female Honor Flight from Lakeland on Wednesday.
Female veterans ages 32-91 traveled to Washington D.C., visiting war monuments to honor their service, sacrifices, and loved ones
Senator Ashley Moody met with them at the Lincoln Memorial to deliver a special thank you for their service.
“Our freedom exists because of the courage and sacrifice of the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. Today, I had the privilege of welcoming a group of Florida veterans as they toured the national memorials honoring their service. This extraordinary group of all-female service members shared powerful stories from their time defending our nation. Though we can never fully repay them for their sacrifice, it was an honor to meet them and offer my heartfelt thanks,” Senator Moody said.
WBNG
By Madeline L. Adams
SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. (WBNG) — The Twin Tiers Honor Flight, a program that takes veterans on trips to the nation’s capital, wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of the women behind the scenes.
Patty Vincent, president and medical director of Twin Tiers Honor Flight, said her first mission did not go as planned. The trip departed from Ithaca, ran two hours late and did not return until 4:30 the following morning.
Despite that, Vincent said she returned after receiving a phone call asking her to use her medical skills on a second trip.
“I kind of got hooked,” she said.
Vincent has led the organization since 2019. Her connection to the mission is personal — her great-aunt served in the Navy, was head nurse at the hospital in Pearl Harbor during the attack and became the first female captain in the Navy. Vincent said she is named after her.
“She’s buried at Arlington. So quite often when we go there, she’s not far from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, so I’ll go down and have a little conversation,” Vincent said.
NGAUS.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 12, 2026) — A new National Guard Educational Foundation program will cover the cost for most NGAUS members to escort veterans traveling on Honor Flight trips to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials that commemorate their service.
Honor Flight Guardians stay with their assigned veterans for the entire trip, providing physical assistance, logistical support and companionship throughout the journey. Veterans pay nothing for the trip, thanks to a long list of sponsors, but Guardians usually donate $400 or more for the experience.
The George and Charlotte Demetriades Guardian Program, which is administered by the NGEF in conjunction with the Honor Flight Network, will cover that expense for NGAUS active-annual, active-life and digital-life members.
George Demetriades Jr., the son of George and Charlotte Demetriades, is underwriting the program. He is an Iraqi War veteran who served in both the Maryland and Tennessee Army National Guard. He now owns and operates two Chick-fil-A restaurants in Arlington, Virginia.
“The George and Charlotte Demetriades Guardian Program reflects the very heart of our mission, bringing generations of service members together to honor the sacrifices of our veterans,” said Theresa Werner, the chairman of the board of the Honor Flight Network.
“By enabling members of the National Guard to serve as Guardians, this program not only supports our veterans on their journey to Washington, D.C., but also strengthens the enduring bond between those who have served our nation in different eras,” she added.
George Demetriades Jr. said he is honoring his late mother, a teacher, and his late father, a former North Carolina National Guard officer, by joining two organizations that “are a big part of my life — the National Guard and Honor Flight.”
“I believe it’s critically important, especially for our younger Guard leaders, to meet and learn from those who came before us,” he said. “And this program will remove the financial barrier for most NGAUS members currently serving in the National Guard to be an Honor Flight Guardian.”
Honor Flights began in May 2005 when a retired Air Force captain Earl Morse organized the first trips using private planes to take World War II veterans from Springfield, Ohio, to Washington, D.C., to see their memorials. A few years later, businessman Jeff Miller collaborated with Morse to expand the program nationwide, creating the Honor Flight Network.
Today, the Honor Flight Network brings approximately 22,000 veterans annually to the nation’s capital. Nearly 40,000 are currently on waitlists to join a flight. Many have never been to Washington, D.C.
Flights are organized by over 130 active Honor Flight Hubs across 46 states. The NGEF pays the Hub directly from the Guardian Program for space on the plane and expenses in Washington, D.C. Most Honor Flight trips are one-day trips.
Veterans typically visit the World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery for the Changing of the Guard. Many Honor Flight trips also include stops at the Marine Corps War Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Navy Memorial, Military Women’s Memorial and the Pentagon Memorial.
“This program will provide some unforgettable experiences,” said retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the NGAUS/NGEF president. “The Guardians will learn what service was like during the Korean and Vietnam War eras. And I’m sure the veterans will be curious about things today. The shared bonds of uniformed service will close the generation gap very quickly.”
The NGEF first announced the program in early January. Several association members have already applied through their local Hub and have a seat on an upcoming flight, said Luke Guthrie, the NGEF director.
Honor Flight trips are set to resume regularly later this month after taking a break for the winter.
More information, including application procedures and a list of 2026 scheduled Honor Flight trips, is available at www.ngef.org/demetriades-honor-flight-guardian-program.
Reporters, Editors & Producers: Retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn is available for interviews or to appear as a subject matter expert on issues related to the National Guard. Contact John Goheen at 202-408-5882 to schedule an interview or appearance.
About NGAUS: The association includes nearly 45,000 current or former Guard officers. It was created in 1878 to provide unified National Guard representation in Washington. In their first productive meeting after Reconstruction, militia officers from the North and South formed the association with the goal of obtaining better equipment and training by educating Congress on Guard requirements. Today, 148 years later, NGAUS has the same mission.
About NGEF: The foundation preserves and tells all 390 years of the National Guard story. Independent of NGAUS but co-located in the National Guard Memorial, the association’s headquarters in Washington, it relies solely on charitable contributions to carry out its mission. More information is available at www.ngef.org.
Walden resident named Vice Chairman of Honor Flight Network’s Board
WALDEN- Walden resident Frank P. Kimler has been elected as the Honor Flight Network’s Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.
“I am deeply honored to serve as Vice Chairman of the Honor Flight Network,” said Kimler. “It is a privilege to be the vice chairman of an organization that so meaningfully honors our nation’s veteran heroes.”
Kimler has served on the National Honor Flight Network Board for six years as the organization’s treasurer, and brings deep expertise in nonprofit governance, finance, and tax-exempt organizations to the role, spending more than 25 years in public accounting.
Kimler served as Chairman of Hudson Valley Honor Flight, Inc. (one of the Honor Flight Network’s more than 130 hubs) for 10 years, since the organization’s incorporation. Kimler also founded the Honor Flight’s out of Westchester County Airport, in White Plains. A dedicated advocate for veterans, Kimler’s passion for honoring and serving those who have served our nation was instilled by his father and grandparents, who served during the Vietnam War and World War II. That legacy of service continues to guide his leadership and commitment to Honor Flight’s mission.
“Frank’s financial expertise, nonprofit knowledge, and unwavering dedication to veterans make him an invaluable leader,” said Theresa Werner, Board Chair of Honor Flight Network. “We are grateful for his continued service and leadership as we work to expand our impact nationwide.”
Wand News
Caryn Eisert
Veterans at a local nursing home received a powerful tribute Tuesday as community groups partnered to bring a Flightless Honor Flight experience directly to them.
The program offered the sights, sounds and significance of Washington, D.C.’s war memorials without ever leaving Illinois.
The event, held at Maple Point Assisted Living and organized by Faith in Action volunteers, replicated the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, a program that flies veterans to the nation’s capital to visit memorials built in their honor. The Flightless Honor Flight is designed for veterans who are unable to travel due to age, health, or other limitations.
“This flight is for those veterans that are unable, for whatever reason, to board a plane to actually go to Washington, D.C.,” said volunteer Rebecca Harper. “Many of them are from nursing homes or extended care facilities, and some are younger veterans who struggle with flying.”
Land of Lincoln Honor Flight typically serves veterans from World War II through the post–Vietnam era, providing a one-day trip to visit the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam memorials; the Lincoln Memorial; the Marine Corps Iwo Jima Memorial; and Arlington National Cemetery.
For those unable to make the journey, the event brought the memorials to them.
Harper said the virtual tour mirrors the real thing.
“The video was set up just like if they were actually doing the tour,” Harper explained. “It goes through all the stops they would actually do if they were on a live tour. The bus driver narrates, and it’s just like they were there — only they’re watching it here with us.”
Avgeekery
By Dave Hartland
On Veterans Day 2025, a heartfelt visit from a former president made an unforgettable journey even more meaningful.
It was already a day to remember.
On 8 November 2025, seventy-nine veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War arrived at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) from Madison, Wisconsin (MSN), as part of the Badger Honor Flight Network. This chapter of the Honor Flight Network, among many nationwide, brings aging veterans to Washington to visit memorials built in their honor.
As the door of the chartered American Airlines Airbus A321 opened, passengers were greeted unexpectedly by former President Barack Obama, who stood waiting on the jet bridge to welcome them.
Veterans head to D.C. for 64th Honor Flight of the Quad Cities
KWQC
By Madeline Gillespie
Over 80 veterans and their volunteer guardians boarded a flight to Washington D.C. Tuesday morning for the 64th Honor Flight of the Quad Cities.
While in D.C., the veterans will tour the monuments built in their honor, and attend the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before returning to the Quad Cities Tuesday night.
For many, it’s a once in a lifetime experience.
“It’s just an honor to be recognized in what we did in the service to support our men and women that were overseas,” said Vietnam veteran, Barbara Withey.
The veterans are expected to land back at the Quad Cities International Airport around 10 p.m., and the public is invited to come to the airport to give the veterans a warm reception and welcome home.
Any veteran who served a year of honorable, non-training, active duty before 1976 is encouraged to fill out an application at honorflightqc.org/.
Central Oregon Daily News Staff
Local veterans were warmly welcomed back to Redmond Saturday following an Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., where they visited memorials honoring their service and sacrifice.
Community members gathered at the airport to greet the veterans as they arrived, then joined a procession to Ridgeview High School for a Welcome Home Celebration. At the event, veterans also received honor quilts recognizing their service.
“This was bigger than I can explain. We landed, came through the airport, and people were clapping and screaming. I wasn’t ready for this,” said Chuck Towner, a Vietnam veteran.
Many of the veterans had never received a proper welcome after their service, making the event especially meaningful. Organized by Honor Flight of Central Oregon, the ceremony aimed to recognize and thank these local heroes for their sacrifices, with strong community support helping to make the day memorable.